Bye bye DLink modem - new modem recommendations

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berrys

225 posts

Master Geek

#46290 6-Nov-2009 09:21

Hi, brief search here at gz for modem recommendations, but only found posts that were a couple of years old.

Got the craptastic DLink modem that comes with telecom broadband and looking to move onto something that performs better (doesn't drop out etc etc). I have a voip ata and separate router that will connect to it, so no need for a built in router, just the modem if possible.

Any recommendations...? Priced under $200...?

Cheers Geekzoners

Shane

dharmatraveller

25 posts

Geek

#270576 6-Nov-2009 10:01

Draytek 100 ADSL2+ modem i am selling on trademe at the moment

insane

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#270770 6-Nov-2009 23:56

Dynalink RTA1320 will make a great match for any router in half-bridge mode. It might suck for routing but has possibly the best 'modem' performance apart from the Telecom locked down Thompson ones. In half-bridge mode your router does the routing so the modem is a winner :) $30 or so on TM.

dharmatraveller

25 posts

Geek

#270783 7-Nov-2009 06:10

RTA1320 has a good modem in it but the unit tends to overheat

berrys

225 posts

Master Geek

#271232 9-Nov-2009 11:16

Thanks - any other recommendations for something new? Belkin, Linksys, Netgear - are any the models by these brands good?

corksta

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#271247 9-Nov-2009 11:41

+1 for the Dynalink RTA1320, but yeah make sure it's in a ventilated area it does get warm.

richms

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#271464 9-Nov-2009 22:23

My netgear DG 834g and the DG632 that is the same without wireless and the switch are rock solid reliable. The DNS in them isn't, but just run your own or specify the ISPs ones manually.

Richard rich.ms

Ragnor

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#271879 10-Nov-2009 23:19

TP Link TD-8840

Cheap, reliable broadcom chipset, supports pppoa half bridge (IP Extension), doesn't have the overheating problem the Dynalink RTA1320 has.

Quic Broadband

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KShips

153 posts

Master Geek

#272709 13-Nov-2009 12:52

Does the RTA1335 stack up as well as the RTA1320 in half bridge mode?

Ragnor

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#272818 13-Nov-2009 17:34

The Dynalink RTA1335 is a discontinued model. Probably pay to avoid it imo.

dharmatraveller

25 posts

Geek

#272947 14-Nov-2009 09:13

With a Draytek modem you can avoid half bridge mode.

bigal_nz

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#272952 14-Nov-2009 09:29

dharmatraveller: Draytek 100 ADSL2+ modem i am selling on trademe at the moment

I will second Draytek - excellent brand. Very reliable - lots of features.

The dynalinks are crap TBH. They overheat and I have seen the units caps fail as a result. Some only last 18 months and a clear CS rep once told me that was how long they were designed to last!! BAD DESIGN.

And half bridge is a bit of pain. Even better to go full bridge mode.

-Al

KShips

153 posts

Master Geek

#272966 14-Nov-2009 10:40

Thanks for the information. I think Coffee had mentioned Draytek a while back and since then I have read excellent reviews.

The 120 supercedes the 100. What advantages are there with the 120?

Just to double check the WRP400 and one of the above would be a good match?

Cheers

Ragnor

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#272994 14-Nov-2009 12:34

With PPoA half bridge there are two minor issues that might affect you:

1: Typically Linux and BSD don't like the gateway being on a different subnet and you have to add a static route on your clients that are running Linux/BSD

2: When you get a new external ip address, the router won't get it from the modem for it's wan interface until the DHCP lease expires to you need to set a short DHCP lease time on the modem.

These are fairly minor issues for residential use as they can be worked around, it's definitely better than the modem and router in double NAT imo.

The Draytek 120 does a full PPoA to PPoE bridge so it avoids the two problems above. However the Draytek 120 is roughly 2x the price of a TP Link TD 8840.

Also the Draytek uses an chipset which apparently has been finicky on some ADSL exchange hardware eg: Vodafone Red and Orcon+ gear. Apparently firmware updates can resolve most issues but the TP Link uses a broadcom chipset that's reliable and pretty much works on everything pretty well.

So basically the Draytek is probably the more elegant solution but it's more expensive and you may have to try a couple of different firmwares if you are on Vodafone Red or Orcon+ gear in the exchange.

berrys

225 posts

Master Geek

#273016 14-Nov-2009 13:58

What about the TD-8610 or T-8616? I'm really just after a modem as I have a wireless router already. Are these available in NZ and do they perform just like the TD-8840 on the modem side of things?

Cheers,

Shane

Ragnor

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#273140 15-Nov-2009 00:17

No idea what chipset the TD-8610 or 8616 use and whether they support half bridge, you'd have to do some research on them.. they look like older models to me - don't know of any stores selling them in NZ.

This should be your short list imo, it's in order from least expensive to most expensive, also from least elegant to most elegant (in looks and solution to your problem).

DSE XH9949
- Reliable broadcom chipset
- Does ppoa half bridge (aka ip extension)
- 4 port switch
http://www.dse.co.nz/dse.shop/en/product/XH9949

TP Link TD-8840
- Reliable broadcom chipset
- Does ppoa half bridge (aka ip extension)
- Not as ugly looking as the DSE
- 4 port switch
http://www.ascent.co.nz/productspecification.aspx?ItemID=361956
http://www.xpcomputers.co.nz/product-tp_link_adsl2+_modem_router_4_port_td_8840-5243

Draytek Vigor 120
- Infinieon chipset
- Does full ppoa to ppoe bridging
- Single ethernet port
http://www.ascent.co.nz/productspecification.aspx?ItemID=376438

Note: Left out Dynalink RTA1320 since it has well know dying after ~1 year problem due to overheating/poor ventiliation.